This 40-saw cotton gin and the wooden gearing came from a farm formerly owned by the Augustus C. Smith family in Monroe County, G. The gin shed was built around 1840 and operated until approximately 1900. The gin stand was probably built in the decade following the Civil War; it bears no manufact

Although some know of the banjo's use by African Americans, the popular consciousness of the banjo has been dominated by images of white Southern musicians and urban folk singers. But the story is more complex. The banjo migrated from Africa to America in the hands and memories of slaves. Through

This small piece of yellow metal is believed to be the first piece of gold discovered in 1848 at Sutter's Mill in California, launching the gold rush. John Marshall was superintending the construction of a sawmill for Col. John Sutter on the morning of January 25, 1848, on the Sout

Through the use of downloadable images of the original documents and 4 brief videos using Lincoln's words to answer questions about the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, students will learn how Abraham Lincoln struggled with the same questions that many Americans had about th

This website focuses on the last handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address, a manuscript that usually resides out of the public eye in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White house. Also included to help students further explore this important document are a printable version of the manuscript, transcr

This online exhibition commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The website covers each major period of Lincoln's private and public life, especially his years in Washington when he made the crucial decisions that ended slavery and preserved the nation. Also

This website from the National Park Service is a helpful resource for anyone who is interested in visiting Fort McHenry or learning more about it. A photo gallery and brief historical essays describe the fort, its defenders and the various roles that Fort McHenry has played in different periods o

Francis Scott Key is recognized as one of the nation's great patriots despite the fact that he initially opposed America's entry into the War of 1812. This article from Smithsonian Magazine discusses several interesting aspects of the war, including: Key's anti-war sentiments, how the events at F

This resource includes images of a rare, first print edition of the Star-Spangled Banner sheet music that combines words and music as well as a hand-written copy of the Star-Spangled Banner poem by Francis Scott Key.  These primary sources are included in the Library of Congress' online exhi

Explore features of the Star-Spangled Banner using this interactive flag included in the online exhibition entitled The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem. Using this interactive tool, students can click on hotspots and learn something new about the fla